Makes 8
1 packet fast acting yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup warm milk, approximately 110-120 degrees but no hotter
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 egg + 1 egg white
3 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
Put the yeast, 1 teaspoon of the sugar and the warm milk in a small bowl - stir gently and leave 5 minutes until foamy
In a large bowl put 2 1/4 cups of the flour, remaining sugar and the salt - mix well
When the yeast is foamy, add it to the center of the bowl with the flour mixture along with the egg and the melted butter
Use a large spoon to give the egg a quick beat, then start mixing everything until it all comes together - it won’t be smooth or pretty and that’s ok
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside 5-10 minutes
Put a little bit of the remaining flour on a flat surface, and add the dough out of the bowl
You want to knead this while adding the rest of the flour until smooth - this should only take a couple minutes of kneading
Grease the bowl the dough came out with a little oil, put in the now smooth ball of dough, cover with plastic wrap and let proof about 30 minutes
Give the dough a couple pokes with your fingers to deflate (I love this part) then put on a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 even pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Roll each into about a 6 inch log, and put seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet - cover with a kitchen towel and let rise 15 minutes
Whisk the egg white with 2 teaspoons water, brush top and sides of the rolls then sprinkle with with the poppy seeds
Place in the preheated oven and bake 15 minutes, or until beginning to brown and become gorgeous